Die Welt for Greece: Measures against coronavirus have results, strict rules have doubled vaccinations

The German newspaper Die Welt mentions Greece and five other countries with laudatory comments, emphasizing that in the midst of a pandemic they managed to effectively control of restrictive measures.

Apart from Greece, the German newspaper talks about France, Italy, Austria, Great Britain and Spain.

In its excerpt for Greece, Die Welt, as broadcast by Deutsche Welle, characteristically states: “The streets of the capital are full. The weekend was full until morning. But baroque bars, shopping trips and restaurant visits are governed by strict rules. Unvaccinated people are not allowed in restaurants, gyms and cinemas anyway. Now they need a negative test for the bank, the hairdresser or the shops. Only supermarkets, pharmacies, churches are excluded. “All workers – and in the private sector – who have not been vaccinated, will have to take two negative tests a week, at their own expense.”

Then the Berlin newspaper observes for our country that “it is in a difficult economic situation, it has ruled out a new lockdown in advance and now it is breaking one record of cases after another. However, the new measures seem to be working. Since the government announced stricter rules, the number of vaccinations has almost doubled, every week, for those taking the first dose. And from today, whoever wishes, can make an appointment through an electronic platform to make the third, booster dose of the vaccine».

Are the Germans in favor of compulsory vaccination or not?

In Germany, the debate is intensifying over whether vaccination should be mandatory – either for the general population or for specific occupational groups, such as the medical profession. Comment in his favor compulsory vaccination The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) reports, however, that: “There is no compulsory vaccination of all citizens in any country on the planet. The compulsory measles vaccine, which is valid in our country, does not mean that children are vaccinated by force. It does mean, however, that everyone in a public body should have been vaccinated. Anyone who refuses is not allowed to work or send their children there. The same happens in the fight against the coronavirus “.

The Süddeutsche Zeitung criticizes the parties of the future governing coalition (Social Democrats, Greens, Liberals), noting that they were late in agreeing on new health measures. As the author characteristically states: “The proposals are correct, but they come too late. Delayed, potential government partners have caused great damage, which is now difficult to repair. At least some of the suggested measures can help in the effort to stop the virus. “Compulsory vaccination for those who professionally care for vulnerable groups (children, the elderly and the sick) would be an important step in this direction.”

coronavirus vaccination

“The 60% rule is absurd”

The debate over the revision of the Stability Pact, especially with regard to public debt, is taking on a wider dimension in view of the French Presidency of the EU in the first half of 2022. The request is reiterated by the French Minister of Finance Bruno Lemerre speaking to the German financial inspectorate Handelsblatt.

“I am a serious finance minister. But I am also a realistic finance minister. If you look at the evolution of debt after the coronavirus pandemic, you will find that there is a difference of up to 100% between the individual member states of the eurozone. The question is: Will we continue to apply rules, such as the absurd 60% of public debt, or will we think – together and without haste – about new rules? ” also mentions.

When should the new rules be introduced, in Bruno Lemmer’s view? “The primary thing is to agree on our political goals,” said the French finance minister.

“The Commission has begun consultations on this issue. “I would like to have a substantive discussion on the political goals during the French presidency in the first half of 2022, before we start, in a next step, to formulate the new rules,” he notes.

Finally, answering the question whether a change in the European Treaties is required, Bruno Lemerre points out: “We must go step by step. Whether we need different legal tools is a question that arises at the end of the debate on policy objectives and the establishment of new criteria. It would be a bad choice to confuse the successive steps, starting with the legal problem “.

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